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Question from Derek Leary: Is there such thing as an organic weedkiller? My wife says not so, but I came home recently brandishing this bottle which purports to be an organic weedkiller. Our garden has been organic for 17 years. She won't let me use it. What do you think?
Eric: We'll pass it on to Bob Flowerdew. No brand names, that's the pack drill. We'll have a look at the content. You are getting old, Bob, you're having to look at the back of the bottle with a magnifying glass.
Pippa: They always write the useful information on the backs of chemicals in unbelievably small typeface.
Bob: Yes, unbelievably small. It doesn't actually tell you what's in it, so it can't be anything very effective! Being organic is like being vegetarian, it's a set of standards that you choose to live by. But there are also defined organic standards to control people selling produce in this country - anything that is sold as an 'organic' food has to be meet the standard. No herbicide at all is allowed under organic regulations for organic producers.
However, over the years some organic organisations have realised that some people can't meet the standards totally, so a few herbicides such as ammonium sulphamate were classed as being the 'least horrible', though not strictly permitted. If you were an organic producer and wished to abide wholly with the organic standards I don't think you could use it. The standards are upgraded and changed every so often, and the main aim is not to prevent people using chemicals, it's to prevent people using chemicals that are harmful to the soil and the life in the garden.
Pippa: Bob, do you still use one of those weed-killing flame throwers?
Bob: Not anymore, I've given up because I set fire to too many things!
Pippa: The cat!
Bob: Now I recommend thermal killing using a steam gun or one of the hot air guns used for paint stripping. It's quite sufficient heat to get rid of weeds in a gravel path or on a rockery, but it's much safer, you're not so likely to set fire to things.
Pippa: But if you use the commercial flame thrower things, yes they are potentially more dangerous but use them carefully and they do work well. I think some of those poxy little ones that you can buy in garden centres are a total waste of money. I bought one and I only use it to light barbecues.
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